Leviticus 20:9-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-9

Moses is here directed to say that again to the children of Israel which he had in effect said before, Lev. 20:2. We are sure it was no vain repetition, but very necessary, that they might give the more earnest heed to the things that were spoken, and might believe them to be of great consequence, being so often inculcated. God speaketh once, yea, twice, and what he orders to be said again we must be willing to hear again, because for us it is safe, Phil. 3:1. I. Three sins are in these verses... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20:10-21

Sins against the seventh commandment are here ordered to be severely punished. These are sins which, of all others, fools are most apt to make a mock at; but God would teach those the heinousness of the guilt by the extremity of the punishment that would not otherwise be taught it. I. Lying with another man's wife was made a capital crime. The adulterer and the adulteress that had joined in the sin must fall alike under the sentence: they shall both be put to death, Lev. 20:10. Long before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:9

For everyone that curseth his father or his mother ,.... Here begins the account of the penalties annexed to the several laws in the preceding chapter; and that respecting the fear and honour of parents being the first, Leviticus 19:3 , is here begun with: shall surely be put to death ; the Targum of Jonathan adds,"by casting of stones,'stoning being the punishment of such transgressors: he hath cursed his father or his mother : to do either is his sin, and a capital crime it is: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:10

And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife ,.... Which is a breach of the seventh command, Exodus 20:14 , even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife : which is only an explanation of the former clause; though the Jewish writers, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom, say this is so expressed to except the wife of a stranger, or a Gentile; but it means whether a Gentile or an Israelite; and which may be confirmed by the instance of Phinehas slaying a prince of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:11

And the man that lieth with his father's wife ,.... Whether she be his mother, or another woman, as the Targum of Jonathan; that is, whether she is his own mother, or a stepmother, or whether he did this in the lifetime of his father, or after his death, or whether she was betrothed or married, it mattered not; according to the Jewish tradition F4 Misn. ut supra, (Sanhedrin, c. 7.) sect. 4. , this is a breach of the law, Leviticus 18:8 ; and a man guilty of this hath uncovered his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:12

If a man lie with his daughter in law ,.... His son's wife, whether in the lifetime of his son, or after his death, or whether she was espoused or married, according to the above tradition F6 Misn. ut supra. (Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 4.) : both of them shall surely be put to death ; it being a breach of the law in Leviticus 18:15 ; and this is the penalty annexed to it, even death: they have wrought confusion : have been guilty of a shocking and shameful mixture, as Jarchi and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:13

If a man lie also with mankind, as he lieth with a woman ,.... Is guilty of the sin of sodomy, this is a breach of the law in Leviticus 18:22 , both of them have committed an abomination ; he that lies, and he that is lain with, both consenting to perpetrate the abominable wickedness; which may well be called an abomination, being contrary to nature, and more than brutish, for nothing of that kind is to be found among brutes: they shall surely be put to death ; if he that is lain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:14

And if a man take a wife, and her mother ,.... Marry both the one and the other, or commit uncleanness with them, they consenting to it: it is wickedness ; abominable wickedness, shocking and detestable; there are other things, which also are wicked and not to be done, but this is extremely wicked, wickedness to a high degree: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they ; the man, the mother and her daughter both being married together to him, or both consenting to his lying... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:15

If a man lie with a beast ,.... A sin quite unnatural, exceeding shocking and detestable, forbid Leviticus 18:23 , he shall surely be put to death : by stoning, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; and this is the death such are condemned to in the Misnah F8 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 4. : and ye shall slay the beast ; with clubs, as says the Targum of Jonathan; the reasons given in the Misnah F9 Ibid. , why the beast was to be slain, are, because ruin came to the man by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:16

And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto ,.... In order that the beast may lie with her, and solicit it to commit such an action with her, see Leviticus 18:23 , thou shall kill the woman and the beast : the woman by stoning, and the beast with clubs, as the Targum of Jonathan; and this for the same reasons as before, as well as to prevent monstrous births: they shall surely be put to death ; both the one and the other, and not spared: their blood shall be ... read more

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